Jan. 02--A very hot winter in jazz:

Dec. 30--The great clarinetist Artie Shaw once told me -- in characteristically provocative fashion -- that at any given moment there were maybe five or six people in the world who could really play the instrument.

Dec. 31--Heading into the new year, the local art house scene is as wide-ranging as ever. Offering an alternative to massive studio pictures, the lineup features small indies, old-school classics, documentaries and foreign films. Here's a quick look at some offerings that caught my eye.

Dec. 31--Just as lifelong bonds are cemented under times of extreme duress -- Ironman triathlons, Outward Bound excursions, Mommy and Me yoga classes -- so do my children grow closer when I refuse to resolve all of their disputes.

Jan. 01--Rose Bowl

Dec. 31--The sparkling wines are chilling; it's time to celebrate the end of a good year and the anticipation of another. After 2014's amazing bounty of good meals, I contemplate the future. Right now, celebration food beckons. I plan to fill the party table with little nibbles inspired by some…